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It was recently revealed that Apple attempted to shut down a server belonging to the security firm that first discovered the Flashback malware. The process gave the public insight into how Apple handles third-party assistance.

According to Forbes, Boris Sharov, the chief executive of the relatively unknown Russian security firm, Dr. Web, was notified by the web registrar Reggi.ru that Apple had requested the shut-down of a domain belonging to the Moscow company on claims that it was being used as a “command and control” for Macs affected by Flashback.

According to Sharov, “they told the registrar this [domain] is involved in a malicious scheme. Which would be true if we weren’t the ones controlling it and not doing any harm to users. This seems to mean that Apple is not considering our work as help. It’s just annoying them.” The domain that was being referred to was one of three Dr. Web was using to monitor the spread of Flashback in what researchers call a “sinkhole”, otherwise known as a spoofed command and control server. This technique allowed the firm to uncover the Trojan that has infected roughly 600,000 macs.

Apple may have requested for the shutdown prematurely before investigating the background of the server, which is a common occurrence in this scenario. Sharov believes that this move was a mistake on Apple’s end. What makes the whole situation a bit more confusing is the fact that Apple likes to be secretive. It is being assumed that Apple is looking to put an end to Flashback by shutting down command and control servers. The Cupertino California company has even pushed two Java updates in the past week in an attempt to catch up with the malware, a move that some seem as being too little too late.

According to Sharov “The safety of Macintosh computers is going down very quickly and they’re thinking what to do next. They’re thinking about how to manage a future where Mac is no longer safe.”

Oh my god! What is the big deal! Millions of Windows computers get thousands of viruses every day and no one talks about it! ONE single virus appears for MAC and everyone acts as if the end of the world is upon us! Come on people! Get over it!

This scenario has been used before. Claiming the security software companies manufacture viruses/trojans to sell software. Who really knows?
Oh and the title of this story is very misleading... How about "Apple tries to shut down rogue server connected to the trojan"

They're Russian. I don't trust a word they're saying. As far as I know they may quite well have been the ones responsible for bringing this trojan into the world.

You'd be surprised how many Russian nationals have a top secret security clearance in the U.S. government's top research labs/bases. I think if we can trust them with military secrets, we can trust them when they say the server is a sinkhole for security research.

Oh my god! What is the big deal! Millions of Windows computers get thousands of viruses every day and no one talks about it! ONE single virus appears for MAC and everyone acts as if the end of the world is upon us! Come on people! Get over it!

Its coz the millions of windows users know how to run a virus scanner where Mac users dont have a clue how to do that yet as Apple hasn't told them how.

They're Russian. I don't trust a word they're saying. As far as I know they may quite well have been the ones responsible for bringing this trojan into the world.

I actually believe that it was an international group of hackers who have taken responsibility for this Trojan. While they say it's harmless and information gathered from this won't be used maliciously, it's groups like these that are hard to trust. These groups are a far cry from hacker activist like the former Lulz Sec and the ever growing popular Anonymous groups geared at controlling corrupt corporate empires.

Its coz the millions of windows users know how to run a virus scanner where Mac users dont have a clue how to do that yet as Apple hasn't told them how.

Think outside Apples Mac and think for yourself and get a PC.

No, the Mac is still far safer, we just need to remember to be cautious about what we allow and don't allow, which is true on all OSes, even mobile devices and Linux.

Bottom line is the best defense has always been and will always be a good offense. Better to not have the infected files even make it to your system than it is to have an AntiVirus tool catch them. AntiVirus software should be a second line of defense, just in case something sneaks by you.

Oh my god! What is the big deal! Millions of Windows computers get thousands of viruses every day and no one talks about it! ONE single virus appears for MAC and everyone acts as if the end of the world is upon us! Come on people! Get over it!

This is why Ubuntu is the best OS ever. Get over OS X and windows - unix(especially Ubuntu)- is where it's at. And it's free. Ubuntu FTW!